Poppinga heads to Lone Star State Nov. 27

Posted: Tuesday, Nov 27th, 2012BY: Mark Madia, Herald Sports Editor

Brady Poppinga

DALLAS, Texas — Former Evanston Red Devils standout athlete Brady Poppinga is headed to the Big D. In fact, he has arrived. Due to injuries to the linebacker corps, the Dallas Cowboys opted to workout Poppinga earlier in the month.

The former Milward Simpson Award winner led his 1997 Red Devils football team to the school’s last state title in 1997. Following an LDS mission to Uruguay, Poppinga arrived on campus at BYU and earned freshman of the year honors. After an illustrious career with the Cougars, he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 2005, where he played for seven seasons, before being released and signed by the St. Louis Rams last year.

Poppinga did not re-sign with the Rams, and was a free agent, playing the waiting game, which Poppinga relayed on his website Poppinga51.com, reminding him of his college days when he first arrived at BYU and wanted to play immediately.

He was always hopeful, even confident his NFL days were not over. The call came in earlier in the month that the Dallas Cowboys desired to workout the veteran linebacker, and he was officially signed to the active roster yesterday, Monday, Nov. 26.

Poppinga’s father, Dennis Poppinga, the longtime Evanston Parks and Recreation Department director, apprised the Herald by email, sharing, “I believe he will be playing inside linebacker, and could get a lot of playing time next Sunday, when the Cowboys play the Eagles on Sunday Night Football.”

The elder Poppinga was not yet sure what jersey number his son would sport.

Poppinga shared his good news with followers and fans on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, acknowledging his “Cowboy” connection.

“I grew up in the Cowboy State,” Brady Poppinga wrote, “and was heavily recruited by the Cowboys out of high school. Now it looks like I am going to be one. Heading to Big D tomorrow.”

After high school, Poppinga had narrowed his selections from the many offers he had received to BYU and the Wyoming Cowboys, coached at that time by Dana Dimel, ultimately opting to become a Cougar like his father before him and younger brother, Kelly, who followed in his footsteps, and now coaches linebackers at the Provo, Utah, university.

A slew of friends and fans have posted on Poppinga’s page, wishing the 1998 EHS graduate all the best, even those who are not fans of the Dallas Cowboys.